Pages

Nov 3, 2011

IPG Quoted by Stars & Stripes on US-Korea SOFA and Crimes by GIs in Korea

Sean Hayes (NY attorneys-at-law) the Chair of the Korea Practice Team at IPG and one of the hosts of this blog was interviewed and quoted by Stars & Stripes.

“However, a New York attorney working in Seoul said the fact that Flippin was an American played a crucial role in his receiving what is an “exceptional” sentence in South Korea.

“It’s kind of a political statement, and I think the judge probably was influenced (by politics),” said Sean Hayes, who represents mostly non-Koreans.

Foreigners typically receive longer sentences than South Koreans for violent crimes, he said, and the Flippin case was seen as especially outrageous because of the woman’s age, the fact that the attack lasted for several hours, and because she sustained injuries not seen in a typical rape.

But there were other factors at play, such as South Korea’s “fervor over sex crimes,” he said. The South Korean press followed the case closely, and, especially with national elections approaching in 2012, any issues involving the U.S. — including servicemember misbehavior — are being turned into political issues, he said.

“The media is looking strongly at these cases because politicians have spoken out,” he said.”

AsiaLaw Leading Lawyer in Korea: Sean Hayes

About SEAN C. HAYES

NY Attorney Sean Hayes grew up in Connecticut and New York to an Irish-immigrant father and Italian mother. He is a U.S. and Irish National. He is a permanent resident of Korea.

Sean Hayes is the first and only non-Korean to be employed as an attorney by the Korean Court System and one of the first non-Koreans to be a full-time regular member of a Korean law faculty.

He is rated as one of only two non-Koreans as a Leading Attorney in Korea by LawAsia. He is, also, rated a leading attorney by numerous other attorney rating services.

He is known over his 14+ years in Korea for his aggressive advocacy and candid NY-style street-smart advice.

Sean is, also, one of the few attorneys in Asia that has experience managing non-consulting companies and working as an HR Manager. He worked as an interim General Manager/Director for Oil & Gas, New Tech, Pharmaceutical, Franchise and Manufacturing companies.

He regularly appears in and is quoted by international media organizations including the NY Times, Wall Street Journal and international law journals.

In his free time Sean enjoys playing golf, drinking beer and carousing with his rowdy friends.

ABOUT IPG Sean's firm is, often, chosen over the ubiquitous Korean Law Firms when un-conflicted and aggressive representation is essential for success.

Sean and his Firm have been recognized by numerous legal publications and rating agencies.

Sean and IPG have, also, been involved in some of the most noteworthy contentious matters via arbitration and litigation in Asia in Korea, China, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Philippines and the United States.